Fire-extinguishing composition.



a citizenwof the United States, residing at V.

srxrns I ATENT OFFICE.

WILLIAM w. WALKER, or cA'MnnmiNnw ms, AssIeNon "ro MAoANDREWS & ronnns comrnmr, or CAMDEN, N'Ew JnnsEY, A CORPORATION or NEW annsny.

rmn-nx'rmonrsamo comrosrrron.

1,161,090. No Drawing.

To all whom it may concern:

Be it known that I, WILLIAM WALKER,

Camden, in the county of Camden and State of New Jersey, have invented new and useful Improvements in Fire-Extinguishing Compositions, of which the following is a specification.

This invention relates to fire extinguishing compositions or compounds and the invention is particularly applicable in a fire extinguishing compound which operates to produce a gas non-supporting to combustion and which opera s as it were, to form a blanket excluding he atmospheric air in such a way that the supply of oxygen to the flames is .cut of, In the operation of such a substance, it;is desirable to deter, as far as possible, the, escape of the gas to the end that it. .wi'll be retained near the flame and so that'it will 'not rise with the heated gases of combustion, or be blown away by drafts of air. V

A principal object of the present invention is to providesuch a fire extinguishing composition or substance as will have a very effective deterrent effect on. the gas so as to increase the efliciency of the composition in operation, and which will ,notdeteriorate when kept ready for use.

A further object of the invention isto produce an ingredient which is veryiuex pensive and readil manufactured, and which can be used with a fire extinguishing composition to produce the effect referred to above.

The invention consists in the product and novel composition and in the extinguishing efiect.

A preferred embodiment of my invention will be particularly described in the following specification, while the broad scope of.

Specification of Letters Patent.

Application filed October 10, 1914., Serial No. 866,154.

rocess to be described more fully hereina ter, both of which contribute to produce an eflicient fire thls purpose.

Patented Nov. 23, 1915.

the composition is thrown upon the fire, and this 1s preferably accomplished by employing two solutions which, when brought to ether, will have the effect of generating I I this gas. When proceedin in this way, I prefer to provide a solution '0. 1 which consists of bi-carbonate of soda10 parts, water87 parts, and I provide also a solution No. 2, consisting of aluminum sulfate15 parts, and -water85 parts. When these solutions are brought together, it should occur in the presence of the in redient which brings about the deterrent e ect on the es cape of the gases. For thisreason, I prefer to mix with solution No. 1, a quantity of a novel substance in which I have discovered novel properties in this connection. This substance I produce in a very simple and inexpensive .Way and distribute it to consuiners under the name of foamite. I produce this substance foami'te by collecting this spent root to a secondary extracting method or process. This secondary process, when conducted in large quantities, consists in placing approximately 12 tons of the spent root in a digester and to this is added a chemical solvent; I prefer to use about 2000 gallons of 10 degree Baum caustic soda solution which is approximately-a 10% solution. But I may use other solvents for The digester is then closed and subjected to a high temperature so that boiling occurs atabout 120 pounds pressure per square inch. This boiling under approximately 120 pounds steam pressure continues for about 10 hours. The extracted matter dissolved from the root is then separated from the residue and is then preferably evaporated down to 25 degree Baum or 50% moisture, in which condition it is loaded for shipment in barrels to the consumer or manufacturer underithe name of foamite. Three parts of this substance are preferably added to solution,N0.'1, so that solution No. 1, complete, includes foamite 3 parts, bicarbonate of soda-10 parts, and water87 parts. When the fire extinguishing compound is to be used, I prefer to mix these two solutions just before they are thrown upon the fire; the result is that, as they fall upon the flames they generate carbonic acid gas in great quantities and the foamite gives the liquid a certain amount of tenacity or property of resisting the outward passage-of the gases. ThlS effect is made evident by the bubbly or foamy appearance of the substance. The bubbles, of course, contain carbonic acid 'gas which is held back or deterred from escape by the bubbles. The fire extinguishing composition will also act as an effective protection from fire; for example, if a quantity of the composition is thrown over the surface of inflammable oil exposed to fire, a blanket of foam containing carbonic acid 'gas or other g'as non-supporting to combustion is formed over the surface, and this tends to prevent the vapors of the oil from coming in contact with the flames, or being ignited by lightning.

The secondary extract of licorice root has very peculiar and valuable properties when used for my purposes, which seem to be due to residual ingredients not extracted by the primary extraction and which give this secondary extract peculiarly beneficial quali ties. The chemical solvent which I use, such as caustic soda, reacts on the extracted matters producing new compounds which increases the valuable properties of the material for the purposes described, making the foam produced therefrom more viscous and tenacious.

It is understood that the embodiment of the invention set forth above is only one of the many embodiments the invention may take and I do not wish to be limited inthe practice of the invention, nor in my claims, to the particular embodiment set forth.

What I claim is 1. As a new product of manufacture, a

fume deterrent to form' an ingredient for a fire extinguishing compound, consisting of a secondary extract of licorice root.

2. The method of producing a fume deterring ingredient for a chemical fire extin-' guishing compound which consists in subjecting spent licorice root to the action of 'a chemical solvent at a high temperature.

3. The method of producing a fume deterring ingredient for a chemical fire entinguishing compound which consists in subjecting spent licorice root to the action of acaustic substance. 7, p

4. The method of producing a fume deterring ingredient for a chemical fire extinguishing compound which consists in subecting spent licorice root to the action of a caustic substance at a high temperature and high pressure.

5. The method of producing an. ingredient for a chemical fire extinguishing compound which consists in mixing spent licorice root with a caustic soda solution and boiling the mixture at a pressure of approximately 120 pounds per square inch.

6. The method of producing an ingredient for a chemical fire extinguishing compound which consists in mixing spent licorice root with a caustic soda solution and boiling the mixture at a pressure of approximately 120 pounds per square inch for a period of approximately 10 hours. a

7. The method of producing an ingredient for a chemical fire extinguishing compound which consists in'mixing spent licorice root with a caustic soda solution and boiling the mixture at a pressure of approximately 120 pounds per square inch, and then evaporating the liquid extract to form a secondary extract of licorice with about moisture.

In testimony whereof I have hereunto set my hand in presence of two subscribing witnesses.

WILLIAM W. WALKER. Witnesses F. D. AMMEN, LENA ELFMAN. 

